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Forever 21 plays the young, spunky upstart to its fast-fashion peers with brightly colored prints, fun frocks, and colorful plastic bangles and beaded necklaces. The stores are usually a bit of a mess, but if you are willing to dig, Forever 21 can be a bargain hunter's paradise. You won't find a suit here to wear to work, but snagging something trendy enough to wear out on Saturday night you will. And though most locations are dedicated entirely to teens and twenty-somethings, the Manhattan stores feature small sections for men's casual wear. Though it is often compared to its slightly more sophisticated counterpart, H&M, Forever 21 peddles runway-inspired styles on an even tighter budget: You'll be hard pressed to find anything over $30. Of course, the prices are proportionate to the quality but by the time your latest purchase falls apart, you'll probably be over it anyway. — Emily Rand

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